Bleeding hearts are beautiful and delicate-looking flowers that can bring a touch of elegance to any garden. These plants are known for their lovely heart-shaped blooms, which come in shades of pink, red, and white. If you’re interested in growing your own bleeding hearts, then you’ll be pleased to know that propagating these plants is relatively easy.
In this blog post, we’ll provide you with some helpful tips on how to propagate bleeding hearts successfully.
What is Propagation?
Propagation refers to the process of reproducing a plant either by seeds or through vegetative means such as cuttings or division. Bleeding hearts can easily be propagated using the latter method.
Dividing Bleeding Hearts
Dividing Bleeding Hearts is one of the most straightforward ways to propagate these plants. You can divide your plant every few years when it gets too large or if it stops flowering regularly. Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose an appropriate time
The best time to divide your bleeding heart plant is during its dormant season – either early spring before new growth begins or late fall after foliage has died back.
Step 2: Prepare the ground
Prepare where you want to transplant by digging holes about twice as wide and deep as each root mass from the divided clump.
Step 3: Dig up existing clumps
Using a spade-fork (garden fork), carefully dig around and under the entire clump being careful not damage any roots
Step 4: Divide
Once removed from the soil use sturdy pruners/shears/scissors/knife/etc., slice straight down through each stem so that there’s at least one well-developed root system per division
Step 5: Replant
Plant each piece in its new location immediately so they will settle into their new spot quickly
Taking Stem Cuttings
Stem cuttings are another effective way of propagating bleeding heart plants. This method can be done at any time of year, but it’s best to do so in the spring or summer months when plants are actively growing. Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose a healthy plant
Choose a healthy and mature bleeding heart plant that has several stems.
Step 2: Prepare Cutting Stem(s)
Using clean sharp scissors, snip off a stem from the parent plant that is about four inches long.
Step 3: Remove leaves
Remove all leaves except for those on the top two inches of the cutting.
Step 4: Dip into rooting hormone (optional)
It’s optional, you can dip your cuttings into rooting hormone powder if you want to help stimulate root growth.
Step 5: Plant Cutting
Fill small pots with moistened starter mix and insert each cutting into its own pot up to where there are remaining leaves on top with about one inch of space between them. Tap soil around cuttings gently.
Tip! To keep things simple and contained use plastic wrap or cover while monitoring moisture levels by misting frequently as needed
Allowing New Growth
After propagating your bleeding hearts through division or stem cuttings, continue caring for them just like you would an established adult plant. Allow new growth to establish over several weeks before moving outdoors or transplanting them outside.
Conclusion
Propagating bleeding hearts can be an easy way of obtaining more beautiful plants without breaking the bank. Division and taking stem cuttings are efficient ways to propagate these delicate-looking flowers without much hassle. By following our tips above, we trust that you’ll have successfully propagated your very own flourishing bed(s) of wonderful Bleeding Hearts.
